Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle Relishing Manchester Derby Opportunity

The world will be watching Saturday’s FA Women’s Super League Manchester Derby!

As if the prospect of City and United locking horns for the first time in the league on Red soil is not enticing enough, the fantastic sub-plot of four World Cup winners going toe-to-toe is sure to attract all types of football fans, even with the early kick-off!

With Manchester City and in the blue corner, Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle will be facing Manchester United stars, Tobin Heath and Christen Press.

The four United States stars will be experiencing their first Manchester Derby unfortunately without the added requiem sets of fans roaring them on.

Let’s see what they had to say about this huge match-

Mewis: “It’s really exciting,” Mewis smiled. “I know the Derby has a lot of historical significance and I’m really excited to be part of it and see the rivalry and competition

“It’s going to be a great game. United have a great team and they’ve been doing really well. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.

“It will be great (to play against Heath and Press). I’m excited to see them and it’s always great to play against them – it’s great competition and that’s a good way to challenge yourself.

“They are both really technical – Tobin is a special player with her technical ability and Christen’s speed and finishing is incredible.

“They’re both really fun to play with – they’re great teammates and they’ve definitely been contributing and adding a lot to the league.

“There’ll be no trash talk! It will be fun to see them and catch-up… after the game!”

Lavelle echoed the sentiments, adding: “They’re great players – gamechangers – and they’ve brought a lot to their team. Off the pitch, they’re great people too.

Lavelle: “I have nothing but good things to say… but I hope the game goes our way!

“It’s always fun when you can be reunited with friends on the field – it adds another element to the game, competing against them.”

“It’s so exciting!” she said. “I’ve watched the Derby before in the men’s game but I never thought I’d be playing in it one day!

“It seems like it’s going to be such an intense game with so much on the line.

“It’s really cool. It’s a huge rivalry and it’s always fun to be part of those games – everything is so heightened.

“Rivalries are fun. Games like this are definitely more intense than they are back home as there’s a bigger football culture here.

“We have really big rivalries in other sports and that’s something I’m familiar with: playing in big games where you really dislike the other team!

“Those are the games you get the most amped for because there are so many things to play for, like bragging rights!

“I’m a huge college basketball fan and back home in Cincinnati, we have ‘the Crosstown Shootout’, which is the University of Cincinnati Bearcats versus the Xavier University Musketeers.

“That’s also blue versus red and I’m a fan of the blue team!

“It’s the same thing: if you lost, going to school the next day was miserable. I would dread it!

“All the kids of the other team would be bragging and you’d just have to stand there and take it!

“Cincinnati is blue and let’s hope Manchester is blue too!”

I and all City fans are looking forward to this match that will be broadcasted worldwide. Cmon City!